It didn’t take very long for them to get to the main hall where Mrs. Ranae almost always was. Andrew (Drew)’s friend opened the door so that Andrew could carry the kid into the room.

“Andrew.” Said the older woman that used to have flaming red hair, but now had turned a more gray shade. “I see you’re back. How did the mission go?”

“It went fine up until Xanner decided to stop fighting.”

“What? What do you mean he didn’t want to continue fighting?” She said, her eyes swiveling to look at him before it landed on the boy he was holding. “Who is that?”

“The reason my dragon stopped fighting. Apparently, he’s sure that he has a part of the dragon power in him.”

“And the kid just up and left with you?” She asked skeptically.

“Well, not exactly, but honestly, I don’t think he had it very well there considering they tied him up and threw him out as bait for Xanner.”

“You’re kidding?! And they never realized that he might have an aptitude for being a dragon mage?”

“Not at all I guess.” He said as Mrs. Ranae stepped down from where she sat. She approached the kid. “I wouldn’t suggest getting too close.” He told her. “He’s very dirty and is covered in blood. You might not want to touch him.” But the woman just ignored him as she got closer.

She lifted the boy from Andrew’s arms. Andrew’s friend Rose gasped from the doorway. “My queen! I wouldn’t…” But Mrs. Ranae, the queen just ignored her.

She held the child in her arms. “How old do you think he is? He’s very small… and slim. The poor kid. He’s been very mistreated.” She said as she felt along his ribs and looked at the hollowness in his cheeks and the bruises under his eyes that accompanied the many bruises that littered his body.

“Maybe…” Andrew said trying to guess his age. “Ten or eleven?”

“Possibly. Go find a place for him to sleep. Let him sleep. He looks like he needs it. It looks like nothing is still bleeding. But have Ines look and see if he had any problems that need to be dealt with immediately. If not, let the kid sleep and when he wakes up, have someone give him food and a bath. Then they can deal with any of the wounds on his body.”

He nodded and held his arms out ready to take the boy. The queen hesitated for a little bit, looking down at the kid with compassionate eyes. The queen whispered something he didn’t quite catch and passed the boy over.